National Republican., 1887-01-14
businefs done is remarkable. Baltimore
has had and stlll retains more than her
quota Of benevolent milllonaires.
Bismarck's Speech.

During Gen. Won Moltke's speech last
Tuesday, on the second reading OF the sep.
tennate army bill, that distinguished SOL
dler is represented as saying, "If this bill
lie rejected we shall most certainly have
war. The army alone renders possible pro.
lection to all other political institutions
which must stand or fall with IT," Bis
vigorous, patriotic, and aggressive as might
be expected on great occasions from so
great man, assisted by the nine glasses Of
brandy and water which cable dispatches
have associated with the chancellor during
the course Of single speech.
1t is really somewhat difficult to know
whether Bismarck is in earnest or merely
engaged in big game OF bluff. lie wants
his army increased by 41,000 men, and the
term of service fixed at seven years, with
an understanding that for some time at
least that army shall be an imperial and not
parliamentary force, The reichstag,
willing enough to provide necessary de.
fenses for the country, sees that the people
are already swamped with taxes, and that
any additional burden would make their
lot almost intolerable. An exceptionally
strong case has to be made out for the i'm.
position Of new burdens, and as last re-
sort Bismarck threatens with the possibility
Of French invasion.
No doubt an addition to the army Just
at present would be convenient, not to say
highly desirable, but It is almost amusing
to read Of the iron chancellor telling a Ger
man parliament, as II in a state Of panic,
"the possibility Of French aggression is a
sufficient motive for the bill. France is q
strong and wel!.armed power, her army is
brave and ready to fight. We must never
cit idle with our hands in our laps, however
peaceful France may look for the moment
Suppose the French should prove vlctori-
Gus, what would we have to expect9 We
should have The same France against us
from which we suffered from 1907 to 1918,
and which would again so suck our blood
thatweshould be paralyzed for thirty years."
Bismarck's appeal for stronger army by
no means proves that France is idiotic
enough to rush upon another war until the
outlook is far more favorable than appears
at present, but the speech throws very i'm.
portant light upon the general relations Of
the European powers. Bulgaria has been
thrown overheard. "What is Bulgaria to
usf' asks Bismarck. What was Hecuba to
the wandering player in Hamlet? ave
can't afford to offend Russia in order to
pacify Bulgaria." and then follows state
ment of cordial relations with Russia and
Austria, and some neat personal compli-
ments for the czar. Italy and England are
mentioned as friendly powers, and even con-
iidence is expressed in the peaceful dispo-
sition Of the French government.
1t is possible that a serious result of this
speech will be found In the infamed vanity
of the French nation, which, feeling the re-
action from sixteen years Of depression,
may take Bismarck at his word. Such in
fuence is already apparent in the fact that
Boulanger has been voted double the
amount he expected for war fund, so that
bellicose utterances in Berlin have stimu-
lated the military business all over the con-
| tinent.
The most interesting result OF the whole
discussion is the position in which the
reicbstag is made to appear toward the en-
| peror and his council. Bismarck simply
said to those who are supposed to repre-.
sent the German people: ''lf you don't
vote upon this measure as we wish you to
vote, you may 60 home and make way for
others" Whether war comes soon or not
the fact remains that, as military dictator,
Prince Bismarck has complete control OF
the German nation and practical control OF
| tho Eurnnaon N continent